Automatic sizing of bores and the like



July 22, 1959 5, J, HUNT 3,456,396

AUTOMATIC SIZING 0F BORES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 15, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! 5 r 9 3 T 1 3 T; lfi I V 5 [(777157 II h I /6 W I 136? Qb 7. /2: m

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Q TEL- :i i T i Z Ill 26 INVENTOR. STUART JACKSON HUNT ATTORNEYS.

July 22, 1969 5. J.-' HUNT AUTOMATIC SIZING OF BORES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet- Filed Sept. 15, 1967 INVENTOR.

STUART JACKSON HUNg ATTORNEYS.

NOE

United States Patent 3,456,396 AUTOMATIC SIZING 0F BORES AND THE LIKE Stuart Jackson Hunt, Richmond, 1nd,, assignor to National Automatic Tool Company, Inc., Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Sept. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 667,919

Int. Cl. B24b 49/00, 51/00, 7/00 U.S. C]. 51165 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE Automatic control means is provided, responsive to the position of a tapered gage in a bore being sized, to stop operation of bore sizing means. The control means includes a selective control circuit having aseries of limit switches successively closed by the tapered gage as it enters further into the sized bore, together with manual means to stop the bore sizing operation upon observing a selected indicator becoming operable. Also pre-selection is possible before the bore sizing operation so that when a pre-selected size is attained the bore sizing operation will be automatically stopped.

One object of the invention is to provide, in combination with bore sizing means and tapered gage means carried thereby and adapted to enter one end of a bore being sized by the bore sizing means, automatic control means responsive to the position of the tapered gage means and operable to stop operation of the bore sizing means.

Another object is to provide a selective control circuit including a series of limit switches successively closed by the tapered gage means as it enters further into the end of a bore being sized, an indicator for each of the limit switches when closed and switch means operable to energize honing cycle stop means upon closure of a selected one of the limit switches to thereby stop operation of the bore sizing means.

Still another object is to provide successive indicators responding to successively closed limit switches, and control means which may be manually operated to stop the bore sizing operation upon the operator observing a selected one of the indicators, or which may comprise a series of size selector switches, one corresponding to each of the limit switches.

A further object is to provide additional indicators, one for each size selector switch, and operable to indicate the selector switch which has been selected as long as the bore sizing operation proceeds.

Still a further object is to provide an arrangement of relays wherein one relay is provided for each size selector switch and is energized by closure thereof, the relays corresponding to the limit switches and the circuit of each limit switch having normally open contacts therein closed by the respective relay to ready a selected circuit for energization of means which stops the operation of the bore sizing means when the selected size has been attained.

Still a further object is to provide a series of selector switches for size out purposes and an additional manual size out switch, so connected together in a control circuit that either the manual size out switch may be actuated at a predetermined time according to certain indicators in the circuit or pre-selection may be had for size out in which, when the selected size has been attained, the bore sizing mechanism is cycled out.

An additional object is to provide a control circuit wherein selector switches are each provided with an indicator so that at the beginning of a bore sizing cycle a bore size can be selected and will remain indicated until that size is attained, there being also provided size attainment indicators which are actuated successively until the selected size is attained whereupon the bore sizing cycle is automatically stopped and the circuit reverts to an inactive condition ready for the start of another bore sizing cycle at which time the selection for that bore size may be made as required.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my automatic bore sizing mechanism whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a honing machine showing gage means for the bore size, an automatic limit switch sizing mechanism actuated thereby and a control panel therefor;

FIG. 2 is a partial diagrammatic view showing one of the limit switchs in its normally open position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the limit switch in its closed position;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a control panel whereon a size selection has been made, the hone of the honing apparatus being shown in the position assumed before operation;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are similar diagrammatic views showing the honing mechanism in operation and respectively one, two and six limit switch circuits energized by successively deeper entry of tapered gage means into the bore;

FIG. 8 is an electric diagram of a suitable automatic sizing control circuit, and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 99 of FIG. 1.

In the sizing of bores and the like by means of expansible reamers, expansible hones or other means are used and it is desirable to proceed with the sizing operation until a predetermined diameter is attained, and then to automatically stop operation of the bore sizing means. By way of example an expansible bone is shown on the accompanying drawings and described therein.

In modern, high production manufacturing of internal combustion engine pistons and engine blocks, it is often necessary to hone engine block bores to specific nonstandard diameters to accommodate pistons already ground to non-standard dimensions. I herein disclose bore sizing machine capability on an automatic, pre-selection basis. The device shown and described provides this type of machine operation.

By way of an example, I refer to the accompanying drawings wherein I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the vertical column of a honing machine such as found in Smith Patent No. 2,790,278 and Calvert Patents 2,741,071, 2,790,277, 2,820,328, 2,820,329 and 2,845,752. Tapered gage means are also shown in the patents just mentioned. Similar gage means is shown generally at G in FIGS. 1 and 9, and is utilized as an actuator for the automatic sizing mechanism disclosed herein. At

12 a drive spindle is illustrated for bore sizing means B shown in FIG. 9 and which may comprise an expansible hone such as shown in the above listed patents. As illustrated in detail in FIG. 9, this may comprise a hone carrying body 14, several circumferentially spaced hones 16 carried thereby and expansion cones 18 actuated by a rod 20 extending upwardly through the spindle 12 and responsive to certain control mechanisms of the honing machine which form no part of my present invention but are well known in the art.

The gage means G comprises a gage ring 22 having hardened gage inserts 24. The inserts are provided at their lower ends with tapered surfaces 26 to accomplish the gageing function as shown in the prior patents above listed. The gage ring 22 is adjustable on the lower end of a sleeve 28 which in turn is axially slideable on the spindle 12 and is normally held by a light spring 30 against the upper end of the hone carrying body 14 as shown in FIG. 9. The sleeve 28 has an extension arm 32 secured thereto for the purpose of actuating certain limit switches as will hereinafter appear. To keep the extension arm 32 and the sleeve 28 from rotating, the upper end of the arm is slidable on a vertical guide rod 34 carried by the column 10.

FIG. 1 shows a limit switch housing 36 in which there is a series of limit switches LS which are normally open as shown in FIG. 2 and are adapted to be closed as in FIG. 3 by the coaction of cams 38 with rollers 40 which is obvious by comparing FIG. 3 with FIG. 2. The cams 38 are adjustable vertically on screws 42 carried by an arm 44 pivoted at 46 in FIG. 1, and this arm carries a button 48 as shown in FIG. 9 adapted to be contacted at times by an adjustable stop 50 carried by the extension arm 32.

Referring to FIG. 4, the normal position of the arm 44 is shown, being biased upwardly by a spring 52 against a stop 54.

In the honing of a bore such as the one shown at 56 in FIG. 4 the hone assembly B is initially in a raised position, and upon operation of the honing machine is rotated and then reciprocated through the bore 56 from approximately half-way out of its upper end to approximately half-way out of its lower end, the latter being shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. This continuous rotation and these alternate reciprocations downwardly and upwardly are continued while the hones of the assembly B are gradually expanded to progressively enlarge the bore 56.

Each time the hone assembly approaches its lower limit of reciprocation the lower tappered ends 26 of the hardened gage inserts 24 enter the upper end of the bore 56 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 wherein, and also in HG. 4, only the tapered surfaces 26 are shown in exaggerated size to better illustrate the operation. For instance in FIG. the gage means G has been able to enter the bore 56 whereas in FIG. 6 it has entered a little further and in FIG. 7 considerably further. The limit switches referred to in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are illustrated as seven in number and designated LS to 16LS inclusive. All seven of them are also similarly designated in the electric diagram of FIG. 8.

A control panel 58 is shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Along the left side thereof are a series of circles 60 indicating combination push buttons and indicator lights. The push buttons are designated in FIG. 8 as S and S1 to S6 and are actually size selector switches designated SELECT in FIGS. 1 and 8. The indicator lights are designated 60a in FIG. 8 but to avoid confusion no attempt has been made to apply reference characters and numerals to all the selector switches and indicator lights in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The control circuit shown in FIG. 8 also includes SIZED indicator lights 62 which occur along the right side of the panel 58 in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Reading from bottom to top, the indicator lights 60a and 62 in both FIGS. 1 and 8 are designated as MIN-H), MIN-H, etc. to MIN+6 inclusive to indicate for the selector switch S and the limit switch 10LS a minimum diameter bore to which the tapered gage means G is responsive MIN-l-l may indicate the minimum diameter of MIN-l-O plus some increment of increased diameter such as .0025". The taper of the surface 24 may be at such a small angle to the axis of rotation that the extension arm 32 may drop /s" for each .0025" increase in diameter. It will now be obvious that having the limit switches 10LS and 11LS etc. adjusted for successive closings upon /8 increments of successive downward entry into the top of the bore 56 will result in such successive closings at .0025" increments in bore diameter.

In FIG. 4 dotted lines indicate seven possible limit switch circuits, the sixth one being a broken line to indicate that the selector switch S5 has been actuated so that its indicator light 60a is illuminated. Only the switch 10LS in FIG. 5, the switches IOLS and 11 LS are closed in FIG. 6, and the switches 10LS through 15LS are closed in FIG. 7. In FIG. 5 a solid circuit line indicates that the limit switch 10LS has illuminated the corresponding indicator light 62 while in FIG. 6 both this line and the next one indicate the second indicator light 62 also illuminated.

In FIG. 7 there are six solid circuit lines indicating the illumination of the first six indicator lights 62 and the sixth one now matches the sixth indicator light 60a. At this time the size of bore selected has been attained and control means is then operable to stop the honing operation as will now be described in detail.

In FIG. 8 current supply wires 64 and 66 are shown together with a sub-current supply wire 68 controlled by a normally closed switch 18S. The limit switches 10LS to 16LS inclusive are in parallel with each other and a cycle start switch S7 and a first size out relay 17R are in series therewith. Also in series with each limit switch is a size switch (indicated 108 to 16$ inclusive) and the series of indicator lights 62 are in series with each of the limit switches 10LS to 16LS inclusive as shown.

Below the switch 10S is a manual size out switch in circuit with a second size out relay 18R and shunted by normally open contacts 17S which are adapted to be closed upon energizaiton of the size out relay 17R as indicated by a dotted arrow at. A dotted arrow b indicates that the normally closed switch 18S is adapted to be opened by energization of the second size out relay 18R.

Adjacent the bottom of FIG. 8 a normally open holding switch 10H shunts the size select switch S for holding the circuit to the relay 10R once it is established by manual closure of the select switch. An arrow 0 indicates the holding switch 10H will be closed by the relay 10R when energized and this relay, as indicated by a dotted arrow d also closes the size switch 10S.

Similarly the relay 11-R when energized closes a holding switch 11H and closes the size switch 11S, and so on through relay 16R, holding switch H16 and size switch 16S, the arrows c and a serving to illustrate the switch operated by the relay 10R whereas such arrows for the remaining relays and switches are omitted to avoid confusion on the drawing.

In addition to opening the normally closed size out contacts 18S the second size out relay 18R as indicated by a dotted arrow e actuates CYCLE STOP mechanism of the honing machine which mechanism forms no part of my present invention but is common in the honing art. The cycle stop steps would, as a typical example, consist of removing hone pressure by elevating rod 20 thereby collapsing the hones 16, elevate the honing tool B to a loading position above the work so that another work piece can be substituted and stop rotation of the spindle 12 as fully disclosed for instance in Swanson Patent Nos. 3,013,363, 3,025,642, 3,097,453; Bargren Patent No. 3,032,932; Calvert Patent No.

3,126,672; Marker et al. Patent No. 3,126,673 and Wright Patent 'No. 3,324,602. I

A typical cycle of operations will now be described. Assume that size select switch S5 has been closed by the operator. This results in the indicator light 60a in FIG. 4 being energized. In FIG. 8 it will be obvious that closure of the switch S5 closes a circuit from the wire 68 through the switch S5 and the indicator light 60a identified MIN+5 to the wire 66. At the same time the switch S5 energizes the relay 15R which results in closure of the switches 15H and 158. Now when the bore sizing means B sizes the bore 56 sufiiciently to let the switch LS close as in FIG. 5, the lower most SIZED indicator light 62 will light up as shown in FIG. 5. Further increase in size of the bore 56 may let the limit switch llLS also close as in FIG. 6 so that two lights 62 are lit. If now the operator decides that the size as indicated by the SIZED light MIN+1 (minimum+.0025") is suflicient, he can close the manual size out switch 95 to energize the relay 18R thus initiating through the arrow 2 the CY- CLE STOP operation and also permit the opened contacts 185 to close for conditioning the circuit for sizing of the bore of the next work piece.

0n the other hand if the manual size out switch is not closed the indicator lights 62 will be progressively energized, until the sixth one which matches the indicator light 60a in FIG. 7, and the relay 18R will be automatically energized because upon closure of the limit switch LS in FIG. 8 current will flow from the wire 64 through the CYCLE START switch S7, the limit switch 15LS and the closed size switch 155 (to energize the relay 17R) back to the wire 66. Energization of the relay 17R will close the switch 178 shunting the manual size out switch 98, which results in the same operation that closure of the switch 98 accomplished as just described, thus resetting the circuit for the next operation and effecting a CYCLE STOP operation until the work piece has been removed, another one inserted and the cycle START SWITCH" S7 manually reclosed.

Thus, the operator may, either by watching the sized indicator lights and manually closing the switch S6, or by preselecting by closing the proper one of the size switches IDS-16S before initiating a honing cycle by pressing the CYCLE START switch S7, stop the honing operation manually upon attainment of the desired size of bore 56, or stop the operation automatically.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my automatic bore sizing mechanism without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In means for the sizing of bores and the like, the combination with bore sizing means and tapered gage means carried thereby and adapted to enter one end of a bore sized by said bore sizing means; of means responsive to the position of said tapered gage means comprising control means operable when energized to stop operation of said bore sizing means, and a selective control circuit therefor comprising a series of limit switches successively closed by said tapered gage means as it progressively enters into said end of said sized bore during sizing operations thereof, an indicator for each of said limit switches when closed, actuating means for energizing said control means, and means operable to energize said actuating means to thereby energize said control means to stop operation of said bore sizing means.

2. Means for the sizing of bores according to claim 1 wherein said means operable to energize said actuating means comprises a switch to be manually closed at a selected time corresponding to a selected one of said indicators upon said selected indicator responding to closure of its corresponding limit switch.

3. Means for the sizing of bores according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a relay for said control means. 1

4. Means for thesizing of bores according to claim 3 wherein said means operable to energize said actuating means comprises a switch for said relay which may be manually closed upon the operator observing a selected one of said indicators.

5. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 1 wherein said means operable to energize said actuating means comprises a series of size selector switches, one corresponding to each of said limit switches and its indicator.

6. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 5 wherein additional indicators are provided, one for each of said size selector switches and operable to indicate the size selector switch which has been selected.

7. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 5 wherein a series of first relays is provided, one for each of said size selector switches and are energized by closure of their respective size selector switches, said relays corresponding to said limit switches and the circuit of each limit switch having normally open contacts therein closed by the respective relays to ready a selected circuit for energization of said actuating means upon closure of only that limit switch corresponding to the selected size selector switch.

8. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 7 wherein a second relay is provided in circuit with each of said normally open contacts and is operable to effect energization of said actuating means.

9. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 7 wherein a second relay is provided in circuit with each of said normally open contacts, and other normally open contacts are provided in circuit with said actuating means and are closed by said second relay.

10. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 7 wherein said size selector switches are of push button type, a holding switch is provided for each size selector switch in shunt circuit therewith, each of said first relays being operable to close its respective holding switch, and normally closed contacts are provided in circuit with all of said size selector switches, relays and holding switches, said actuating means being operable to open said normally closed contacts when it energizes said control means to thereby open the holding switch of the selected size selector switch to condition the control circuit for the next bore sizing operation.

11. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 6 wherein a series of first relays is provided, one for each of said size selector switches, and are energized by closure of their respective size selector switches, said relays corresponding to said limit switches and the circuit of each limit switch having normally open contacts therein closed by the respective relays to ready a selected circuit for energization of said actuating means upon closure of only that limit switch corresponding to the selected size selector switch, said actuating means, upon being energized, rendering inoperable, any additional indicator which is operable at the time.

12. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 6 wherein a second relay is provided in circuit with each of said normally open contacts and is operable to elfect energization of said actuating means and reversion of said control circuit to stand-by condition.

13. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 6 wherein a second relay is provided in circuit with each of said normally open contacts, and other normally open contacts are provided in circuit with said actuating means and are closed by said second relay, said actuating means, upon being energized, elfecting reversion of said control circuit to such condition that another operating cycle can be initiated.

14. Means for the automatic sizing of bores according to claim 6 wherein said size selector switches are of push I 3,456,396 j I a I L t 7 8,

button type, a holding switch is provided for each size se- References Cited a lector switch in shunt circuit therewith each of said first UNITED STATES PATENTS relays being operable to close its respective holding switch,

and normally closed contacts are provided in circuit with 2,820,329 1/1958 calYert 51165 X all of said size selector switches, relays and holding 5 3,126,672 3/1964 Calvert et 51 34 switches, said actuating means being operable to open said 3,324,602 6/1967 Wright- '5 X normally closed contacts when it energizes said control I 1 means to thereby open the holding switch of the selected LESTER SWINGLE Primary Exammer size selector switch to cancel any indicators which are at U S C1 X R that time energized and to condition the control circuit 10 for the next bore sizing operation. 51-34 

